History

Understanding power through caste: Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution to the sociology of law

Dr Babasaheb’s understanding of Indian society was pivotal: he was prescient in the dangers that loomed ahead, even after drafting the Indian Constitution; because caste-based inequality remains deeply entrenched in society and the post-Independence state did not go much beyond providing formal equality to the lower castes and other marginalised communities, Dr. Ambedkar was acutely aware of the continuing presence of upper-caste hegemony from society to politics and from culture to the economy

Fiction as history and history honestly portrayed: a tale of two films and a documentary

In India today, fiction is being peddled as history. What’s tragic is that most Indians are falling for such propaganda. There has been a spate of motivated films financed and promoted by the Sangh Parivar, starting with the ‘Kashmir Files’ to the latest ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar’.

Congress Radio, the power of revolutionary change: Lessons from ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’, the film

Usha Mehta, a fiery satyagrahi, mesmerised by Gandhi, is the protagonist of this timely film; she with her two young colleagues, conceived and ran the underground ‘Congress Radio’ from Mumbai to both inform and unite fellow Indians left leaderless after the British crackdown on the Congress leadership following the historic quit India Rally at Gowalia Tank on August 8, 1942; “Karo Ya Maro” (Do or Die) was the powerful cry from the Indian people that day and Congress Radio, epitomises this unique contribution to the freedom struggle; it re-ignited the ‘Quit India Movement’ that challenged the oppressive British regime

Films building up  a majoritarian narrative: Swatantraveer Savarkar

Films are a very powerful medium which create a social understanding...

A Tiny Book that Captures Powerful Idea(s) of India

Two internationally renowned public intellectuals, historian Romila Thapar and literary theorist Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak met in 2017 and conversed about The idea of India and how it has evolved historically. The conversation was published as a book, seven years later in 2024. Writer and academic Zahira Rahman reviews the book highlighting its insights and historical relevance.

When The Marathas Came To Jammu?

How war-wearied Maratha soldiers embraced Duggarland and made it their home?

Uncovering Historical Truths: Were the Mughals anti-Hindu?

Fact-Checking claims with Citizens for Peace and Justice to debunk myths: Did the 'Anti-Hindu Mughals' destroy temples in Azerbaijan?

The Fire next time: an impassioned plea to the nation for communal sanity

From the archives of Communalism Combat, No. 20, March 1996

Speak aloud about injustices: Women leaders recall Rani Chennamma’s fight for freedom

Ending month-long campaign in order to celebrate the legacy...

Lest we ever forget: Maulana Azad whose death anniversary is today, February 22

On the 55th death anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a doyen of India’s freedom struggle, India’s first Union Minister for Education and a man whose contribution the present far right regime wants to erase from all record, we must always remember the man who was President of the Indian National Congress twice. In memorium

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